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Over the Summer, it would be good to run a through special from Marton Hinmarche to Cant Cove, perhaps conveying Baron and Lady Tiverton or Lord and Lady Trevelver on the return run. I could run some first class carriages and dining cars behind either Forthampton Grange or Cranmore Hall. The route for through running would be via Cheltenham and Bristol Temple Meads.

Thanks, Laurence. I plan to be running far more 'through' trains once June comes. I have a pretty good selection of coaches so I'm pretty confident I could match your rake. My "Grange" 4-6-0 6803 "Bucklebury Grange" would take over at Exeter, replacing the loco. which took over at Bristol Temple Meads.

That's good Chris. So, in June, I will see what I can put together. As the loco will be changed at Temple Meads, I could use one of several for the first leg of the journey.

Thanks, Richard and Martin. Richard, they were available, fairly recently with both types of tender: 372-651 76069 and 372-652 76020. My 76020 has been renumbered to 76005. Salisbury (70E), whilst 76069 remains as allocated to Eastleigh (70D).

Thanks, Laurence. The train of BR WR Mark 1 coaches can be in BR Lined Maroon or BR WR Chocolate & Cream or even, BR Crimson & Cream (or a mix). The BR Lined Maroon Mark 1s can also be LMR or ER (or mixed) ones. A similar train has been photographed and pictures will be posted, soon. Whilst we're in 1963, the train can be run from c. 1956 to c. 1963. Prototypically correct would be the addition of an ex-ER BR lined Maroon Gresley design SK to the rake. (These can be bought new for around GBP 21 and are lovely models.)

To repeat what I've posted already on Trepol Bay and Port Perran, an overview of the Cornish autotrains is in order as photos. are coming, now and later.

The GWS (Bodmin) have a surplus of [Dapol] 14xx locos. purchased and then overhauled, at Swindon Works after withdrawal, which ran on the Fowey branch before they were replaced by other examples and then the single-unit BR diesel railcars which now (1963) run. In numerical order, they are: BR Plain Black EC 1408 with boiler top feed (83D but lent to 83E, in real life), BR Plain Black EC without top feed 1419 (83E). One is back at Swindon Works for a light overhaul [remedial bufferbeam detailing cosmetic work by Gideon]. The third is: Dapol ND-016 14xx BR Lined Green LC 1462 w/o top feed (incorrect for 1434, 68 (83E), and so will be sold). It is awaiting its replacement which is undergoing a heavy general overhaul at Swindon Works [Tony]. Until then 1462, on loan from Exeter, can run 'through' between South Devon and Cornwall, as required. 1462's scheduled replacement is a rare BR Lined Green Late Crest 14xx top feed [correct for 1468 (83E), the last 14xx to run on the Fowey branch, I believe] ex-set. When 1468 arrives, this summer, 1462 will depart [send me a PM if interested]. All 4 are DCC-fitted by Douglas at Wickness and have been test run. The future 1468 was purchased because of its livery and top boiler feed combination but it seemed to have been dropped by a previous owner and needed a lot of TLC. One fault of the Dapol 14xx models in BR Lined Green is the silver-painted handrail on the front of the boiler which, in real life, was painted green and black to match the boiler underneath. (This will be corrected on 1468.]

In real life, the Fowey branch was the only place that the little 14xx locos. ran in Cornwall because of its lack of severe gradients and low passenger numbers for which one autocoach sufficed. Unlike the South Devon Brixham branch, no goods vehicles were added either to the autotrains as there were separate goods trains run.

The Fowey autotrains were purchased with funds from Lord Trevelver in honour of Sylvia Trevelver's beloved old Cornish widowed nanny, 'Nursie', from Fowey, who married the former regular driver of the 14XX, 1419, on the autotrain to / from Lostwithiel (on which 'Nursie' often took Sylvia when she was very small) who looks after the train crew as well as the "Girls" on special trips but, unfortunately, is rather deaf and can fall asleep in the loudest bar. However, in practice, the autotrains are not suitable for regular use in North, West or Southwest Cornwall because of the gradients and the greater number of passengers. Accordingly, the 14xx plus single autocoach combination only run off-season, off-peak, and as enthusiast charters, like the one photographed at Trepol Bay. They also run as part of the regular crew training program and, especially, during the annual pre-Easter refresher weekend. [Photos. of 1462 plus ex-GWR autocoach will be coming, later.|

Well aware of the limitations of the 14xx class, the GWS (Bodmin) and Port Perran branches have both purchased an ex-works BR Lined Green LC 64xx late of the Plymouth local autotrains which can cope much better. Additionally, the GWS (Bodmin) has purchased one of the rare BR auto-fitted 4575 'Prairie' tanks, 5534 (83E) which was the back up for the Fowey autotrains and, of course, well able to cope with much longer trains of autocoaches. [A simple addition of a tiny wedge-shaped connector to both bufferbeams and a battery box is all that is required in 2mm Scale.] The only question is did it keep BR Black (unllined?) EC livery to the end? Some, in South Wales, carried BR Lined Black livery after auto-fitting.

Cant Cove's official photographer, John Prynne, Chief Accountant of the "Castle Estates", having fully recovered from his illness has been busy getting his films developed and printed.

The first few are an interesting working from Wadebridge, hauled by Z Class No. 30956, consisting of three goods vehicles, left by an Eastleigh-Wadebridge scheduled fast goods, plus an ex-SECR brake van worked up from Trepol Bay Harbour for an overhaul and repaint, prior to be used for training on the notorious harbour incline and then enthusiast rides over the Easter weekend.

As a 'peace offering' (due to the continued delays in overhauling steam locos. for the CLPG, Cant Cove) from Eastleigh Works, an old LSWR design road van, discovered abandoned and not fully repainted in SR livery, was sent to the CLPG (Cant Cove).

Next to it was one of the batch of surplus, non-vacuum-brake fitted (through pipe) 'Ferry' 'Tube' wagons transferred to N. and W. Cornwall and one of the BR Extra-LWB Pallet vans now also in use from S. Devon.

Thanks, Richard. It was bought on eBay with the weathered ex-LBSCR brake van and a Peco BR Standard one. I think the body was constructed from a brass kit. In BR Grey livery at least one of these ex-LSWR road vans was used at Wadebridge in the late 1950s. They would make a good 3D print. This one has a poorly fitting roof and needs the red paint 'touching up' but I don't have the exact shade. That apart, it is very well-made and painted and the transfers have been applied well. It could do with a spray of matt varnish though which it will get (I may need to buy a new aerosol).

Thanks, Richard. It was bought on eBay with the weathered ex-LBSCR brake van and a Peco BR Standard one. I think the body was constructed from a brass kit. In BR Grey livery at least one of these ex-LSWR road vans was used at Wadebridge in the late 1950s. They would make a good 3D print. This one has a poorly fitting roof and needs the red paint 'touching up' but I don't have the exact shade. That apart, it is very well-made and painted and the transfers have been applied well. It could do with a spray of matt varnish though which it will get (I may need to buy a new aerosol).

Thanks for that. Pre-Grouping brake vans were very rare by the 1950s. I recently found a photo of an ex North British six-wheeler in BR grey, awaiting disposal at Lauder in 1958. I may have to model it.

T9 30313 has justly proven to be very popular. Here it works an enthusiasts' charter from the ER to Wadebridge taking its passengers to see a very rare LNER liveried loco. working between Wadebridge and Truro. With its very light 4-coach train of BR Standards: BR SR RFO and RMB plus ER SO with BCK, the T9 had made splendid time from Okehampton to Wadebridge and then on to Penmayne from where it is returning, through Cant Cove.

It is well known (at least to readers of my tales, here) that Doctor Who is a great fan of the "Greyhounds" in their final form and a special train, formed of an ex-LBSCR Brake van, newly overhauled, plus a newly overhauled and painted ex-SR Maunsell brake second, was chartered for him and invited guests. The passengers began and ended their journey at Cant Cove.

The TARDIS is safely tucked out of sight.

An epic run from Penmayne to Okehampton (break for a 3-hour leisurely lunch) and back was enjoyed by all, especially those riding on the front platform of the brake van!

In connection with the special train of ferry vans arriving at Cant Cove for transfer to the Castle Branch, a special 'scratch set' of Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits (CIWL) "Pullmans" brought a party of Continental business people for a meeting in Trevelver Castle's Great Hall to discuss ways how to increase Continental trade via the West Porthsea Quay - Regleun train ferry. A scratch set was necessary as the usual set of coaches for the timetabled CIWL Pullman "Star of the West" / 'L'etoile de l'Ouest', Brittany - Cornwall service are all under repair, following frost damage, two in South Devon and the rest at the CIWL Workshop at Ostende, Belgium.

The 'scratch set' is formed of a new CIWL dark blue Dining Car 2871 and a unique CIWL dark blue Pullman Baggages car.

With railway gossip travelling faster than the top link loco's that carried it, news of the special scratch set in cornwall had reached the ears of those in the know in Perthshire, fuelling speculation when a similar, but longer set of coaches was later spotted in Auchterarder ....